Machine for translating semifluids and comminuted solids



June 23, 1936- w. L. HART MACHINE FOR TRANSLATING SEMIFLUIDS AND COMMINUTED SOLIDS Filed April 15, 1935 ISnnentor Ha? 2 aZZerL,

attorneys Patented June 23,193

PATENT OFFlCE MACHINE FOR TRANSLATING SEMIFLUIDS AND COMMINUTED SOLIDS Walter L. Hart, Milwaukee, Wis. Application April 15, 1935, Serial No. 16,448

2 Claims.

This invention relates to apparatus for the translating of semi-fluids, comminuted solids and the like, such as fluid concrete, grout, sand, grain, dry cement, etc., and is particularly designed for moving such materials through pipe lines or conduits in a continuous stream to the point where they are to be deposited. The machine of the invention transmits a direct push or thrust on the material and the distance it can be moved is limited only by the power available and the strength of the materials used in building the machine and conduits.

Another object of the invention is to produce apparatus of the general character outlined which is of strong, simple, durable and inexpensive construction; and in order that it may be fully understood, reference is to be had to the accompanying drawing, in which:-- a

Figure 1, is a top plan view 'of a machine embodying the invention.

Figure 2 is a section on the line 11-11 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is an end view of the machine with the pipe line shown in section.

In the said drawing, where like reference characters identify corresponding parts in all of the figures, l is a shaft which is journaled in bearings 2 supported by a framework, as here illus trated, comprising a pair of spaced, parallel I-beams 3. Keyed on said shaft, between the I-beams, is a rotor or impeller 4, having in its periphery, a series of recesses or pockets 5, which are preferably of arcuate form, the are being struck with a radius equal to the chord of that part of the rotor spanned by the pockets. Thus each pocket is separated from its neighbors by a partition 6.

The impeller 4 snugly rotates between a pair of side walls 'I carried by the I-beams, and the ends of the partitions 6 come into close contact with a bottom portion 8, or they may wipe the same. The bottom 8 and the side walls I constitute a more or less trough-shaped feeding chamber through which the pockets successively convey a charge of the material being moved. Carried by the frame members at one side of the impeller is a charging hopper 9 from which the recesses or pockets pick up their loads, the bottom of said hopper constituting a continuation of the bottom of the feeding chamber.

On the opposite side of the impeller, which rotates in the direction of the arrow shown in Figure 2, is a receivingor pressure chamber Ill, in communication with a pipe or conduit line Illa throughwhich the concrete or other material is fed. The pressure chamber III is closed at its top by a sliding gate II operated in timed relation to the rotation of the impeller, and having a tongue and groove connection I2 with the side walls I. To operate the gate I I and rotate the impeller 4, one end of a driven shaft I3, which is journaled in bearings I4, carries a gear pinion I5 enmeshed with a gear wheel I6 on the shaft I. Keyed to said shaft I3 at opposite sides of the machine are a pair of eccentrics I1 having a throw sufficient 10 to cause the gate II to retract to permit its end to maintain constant contact with the recesses or pockets 5 to insure that they are entirely emptied of concrete before each pocket passes beyond the pressure chamber l0. Encircling the eccentrics are the straps Ila of connecting rods I8 which have sliding engagement with blocks I9. Extending transversely of the machine with its ends loosely received in the blocks I9 is a cross rod 20, which extends through a pair of upstanding ears '20 carried by the slide gate or valve I I.

The rods I8 loosely slide in the blocks I9, and to transmit power from said reciprocating rods to move the gate I I, a pair of springs 22 press against opposite sides of the blocks, said springs having 25 nuts 23 for adjusting their tension. With this gate or cut-off, operated in timed relation to the impeller, it will be apparent that the end of the gate will always be yieldingly pressed against the pockets of the impeller to insuretheir complete discharge into the pressure chamber, and that, through the springs 22, the operation of the gate is resilient and will yield, should a rock or the like become jammed in the slides or other parts of the mechanism. I

To prevent overloading of any of the structure,

the bottom of the charging trough is adapted for yielding to permit discharge of the pockets, if the pressure in the pressure chamber, due to resistance in the line, becomes greater than the parts of the machine are adapted to withstand. The bottom 8 of the trough, is therefore pivoted on a cross shaft 24 carried by the support, and the front end of said trough overlaps the bottom portion of the charging hopper. The trough is held in closed position through the force of the spring 25 abutting a cross bar 26 carried by the support or frame of the machine. It will be evident that this trough may yield if the pressure in the pressure chamber Ill becomes greater than the force 59 of the spring, or if a rock or the like should become wedged or jammed between one of the partitions 6 and the bottom of the chamber.

It is believed that the operation has been sufiiciently detailed to make it unnecessary to recapitulate. From the above description it will be apparent that I have produced a construction embodying all of the features of advantage set forth as desirable, and while I have illustrated and described what now appears to be the preferred construction, it is to be understood that I reserve the right to all changes within the spirit of the invention and without the ambit of the prior art.

I claim:-

1. Apparatus for translating semi-fluids comprising a rectangular casing substantially open at its top, a pocketed impellar journaled above said casing and having its lower portion depending between the side walls so that its periphery is adjacent the bottom of the casing, and a reciprocating tween the side walls so that its periphery is adjacent the bottom of the casing, and a reciprocating gate mounted for limited resilient movement in either direction closing the remaining open top portion of the casing and having abutting engagement at one end with the periphery of the rotating impeller.

WALTER L. HART. 

